Jimmy Thelin committed to Aberdeen’s ‘three-year plan’ amid Sweden links

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin stressed his commitment to the club’s “three-year plan” as he addressed speculation linking him with the vacancy at the head of his country’s national team.

Reports in Sweden have claimed that Thelin is among the candidates being considered to replace Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was sacked following his side’s World Cup qualification failure.

The 47-year-old led Elfsborg to successive runner-up finishes in the Swedish league before guiding Aberdeen to Scottish Cup glory earlier this year in his first season in Scotland.

Addressing the speculation, Thelin said: “It’s always an honour to be mentioned in these circumstances but I have a long contract here.

“I’m really happy at Aberdeen Football Club. We have so many things, hopefully good things, to look forward to at Aberdeen Football Club.

“My focus is 100 per cent here. I’m really happy here, I have a contract here, and I really enjoy being at Aberdeen Football Club.

“The spirit and the surroundings here, we have been through a tough time now, but we still have a strong belief in this three-year plan we have.

“We are working with the same process all the time, and it’s a journey I really like to be involved in.”

Thelin recently faced speculation of a different kind as Aberdeen failed to score in their first six games of the William Hill Premiership season and lost at home to Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup.

But a 4-0 win over Dundee last time out has changed the narrative and Thelin believes they can be stronger for dealing with that adversity.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash with St Mirren in Paisley, he said: “Even in the tough times we kept the focus on the right things. We don’t panic.

“It’s not a nice situation. As a manager or a footballer, the only way to get out of difficult tasks or situations is to work. You can’t hide away. You can’t put everything on hope or luck, you have to keep working.”